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Even easier and more private than our web appUpdated January 2026
Update your Instagram handle in seconds. Here's exactly what happens and what to consider before changing.
Quick Answer
Profile → Edit Profile → Username → Enter new name → Save. Takes effect immediately. Your old username becomes available for others to claim.
Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to open your profile
Find the Edit Profile button below your bio
Tap the username field to edit it
Type your desired username (letters, numbers, periods, underscores only)
If there's no error, the username is available
Tap the checkmark or 'Done' to save. Changes are instant
Rebranding your account?
Track who follows and unfollows after you change your username. Understand how your rebrand is received.
Check your followersGo to your profile → Edit Profile → Username → Type your new username → Save. If the username is available, it changes immediately. If it's taken, you'll see an error and need to try a different name.
There's no official limit—you can change your username as many times as you want. However, Instagram may temporarily restrict changes if you change it too frequently (like multiple times per day) to prevent abuse.
Your old username becomes immediately available for anyone else to claim. There's no grace period or reservation. If you change your mind and want it back, someone else might have already taken it.
No, your followers stay with your account. They'll still follow you—your profile just has a new username. They might not recognize your new name at first, so consider posting about the change.
Tags in posts update automatically to your new username. However, if someone typed your old username in a caption (not using the @ tag), that text won't update and the link will break.
Only if no one else has claimed it. Go through the same change process and enter your old username. If it shows as available, you can take it back. But there's no guarantee—it could be gone in seconds.
Common reasons: 1) The new username is taken, 2) It contains invalid characters, 3) You've changed it too many times recently, 4) Your account has restrictions. Try a different username or wait 24 hours.
No. Username (@handle) is unique and used in your profile URL. Display name appears on your profile and can include spaces, emojis, and doesn't need to be unique. You can change both independently.